Popularity of Zyn and other nicotine pouch brands among U.S. adolescents, young adults, and adults in 2021.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study identifies brands of nicotine pouches used in 2021, just before the surge in popularity of Zyn use. METHODS: We conducted a national, cross-sectional online survey of a general U.S. population (November to December 2021; N = 6131; age 13-40) via Qualtrics panels. Descriptive analyses and chi-squared tests (alpha = 0.05) were performed to assess ever and past-30-day use of nicotine pouch brands across adolescents (13-20), young adults (21-24), and adults (25-40), and to assess frequency of popular brands used among peers. RESULTS: The top brands ever used were Zyn (overall 30.9%; adolescents 31.9%; young adults 33.2%; adults 28.3%) and Lyft (overall 28.8%; adolescents 28.4%; young adults 32.9%; adults 26.3%), with no differences in ever-use by age group (p's > 0.095). The top brands used in the past-30-days were Zyn (overall 26.4%; adolescents 24.5%; young adults 24.3%; adults 30.0%) and Rush (overall 24.2%; adolescents 21.0%; young adults 22.7%; adults 28.6%). Adults (vs. adolescents, young adults) were more likely to report past-30-day use of Lyft (p = 0.004). Participants indicated Zyn (18.5%) and Lyft (18.2%) to be the most popular brands among peers. CONCLUSIONS: Even in 2021, Zyn was the most popular brand of nicotine pouches. Findings will help regulate and reduce impact of marketing of Zyn.